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Day 3 - City Life Bangkok!
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Yesterday we left Phra Nakhon for the 45-minute journey into Bangkok centre and our new hotel for the next 5 days. The Aira Hotel comes highly recommended from YouTubers, bloggers and of course Trip Advisor. This is a relatively modern hotel, with top-notch facilities, right in the centre of Soi 11, the main party strip in Bangkok.
We arrived early at the Aira, about 10 am, and were expecting a long wait to get into our hotel room. In the past, other venues have just kept our bags in a lock up until we were ready to check in at about 2pm. This time, however, we were told we could check in straight away. This is the mark of good service in my book, and my first impressions of this four-star hotel were good — I definitely had high hopes for our stay.
We arrived early at the Aira, about 10 am, and were expecting a long wait to get into our hotel room. In the past, other venues have just kept our bags in a lock up until we were ready to check in at about 2pm. This time, however, we were told we could check in straight away. This is the mark of good service in my book, and my first impressions of this four-star hotel were good — I definitely had high hopes for our stay.
The positivity didn't stop there! When we got to the room, I was amazed by the size quality and views from this superior suite. Of course, I had paid extra for this particular location in the hotel, but it was worth every penny. Considering this was the first time I had picked a room based on recommendations, I was suitably impressed. YouTubers and bloggers are usually quite economical with the truth and describe hotels and experiences as 'amazing' when they are nothing but.
I was more than happy to be spending five days at The Aira and if you are thinking about travelling to Bangkok, you would do well to choose this hotel. I never make recommendations as a rule, because I understand that everyone has different tastes and views, but the Aira offers something for everyone. Oh, and the bed is huge — you could fit six people or more in it (Make of that what you will)!
I was more than happy to be spending five days at The Aira and if you are thinking about travelling to Bangkok, you would do well to choose this hotel. I never make recommendations as a rule, because I understand that everyone has different tastes and views, but the Aira offers something for everyone. Oh, and the bed is huge — you could fit six people or more in it (Make of that what you will)!
Today was about exploring the local area. Our Hotel is situated in Soi 11, right in the heart of the city. It is literally a short walk from Nana BTS Station and is surrounded by a variety of international restaurants and bars. This is where tourists come for a good time, and it's easy to see why. It reminds me very much of Danang in Vietnam or Benidorm in Spain, although the hotels here, are a little more upmarket and there is at least a classy vibe.
However, just around the corner, you arrive in the red-light district, which Darrell and I stumbled on by accident. This isn't a gay district, but it is extremely gay friendly. There were plenty of Thai girls touting for business, massage parlours and adult bars in this more seedy side of Soi 11 and I would say this isn't an area to bring children. This most certainly is an adult only destination of choice.
However, just around the corner, you arrive in the red-light district, which Darrell and I stumbled on by accident. This isn't a gay district, but it is extremely gay friendly. There were plenty of Thai girls touting for business, massage parlours and adult bars in this more seedy side of Soi 11 and I would say this isn't an area to bring children. This most certainly is an adult only destination of choice.
Darrell and I did take the BTS Sky Train to the MBK shopping centre, which is always a place to find some bargains. This huge complex contains smaller market type stalls selling everything you can imagine and a lot more besides. There are a lot of fake designer brands so be careful, and the prices can vary dramatically, so watch your wallet.
From the MBK centre, we went to the most famous bookstore in all of Bangkok, at the Central Embassy Mall. This exclusive shop is full of books, art work and coffee shops. It is the ideal place to sit and take in the view outside, read a publication or just browse. This isn't your usual bookshop and there are many obscure titles that are rather highbrow in nature; it isn't the place to buy bog standard fiction title sold on the shelves of Dymocks or Waterstones. The atmosphere is superb and luckily for me, there was also a wonderfully well stocked LGBTQIA+ section, containing books and art work you wouldn't find anywhere else.
From the MBK centre, we went to the most famous bookstore in all of Bangkok, at the Central Embassy Mall. This exclusive shop is full of books, art work and coffee shops. It is the ideal place to sit and take in the view outside, read a publication or just browse. This isn't your usual bookshop and there are many obscure titles that are rather highbrow in nature; it isn't the place to buy bog standard fiction title sold on the shelves of Dymocks or Waterstones. The atmosphere is superb and luckily for me, there was also a wonderfully well stocked LGBTQIA+ section, containing books and art work you wouldn't find anywhere else.
In the evening, Darrell and I opted for a rather nice meal at the hotel. They do an all-you-can-eat buffet, which isn't what it appears to be on the surface. This isn't a pile it high, eat thousands of calories in one hit kind of buffet, but a rather sophisticated meal. Consisting of lots of courses of beautifully cooked Thai and western food, it is brought to your table in a timely fashion, by attentive waiters, expertly trained to make your experience perfect!
I suppose Darrell and I had about six courses each, and they all tasted unbelievably good. We could have had many more, but after piling on the pounds, I kept it rather restrained. I paid about AUD$60 for the two of us and that was including a 20% service charge, We chose the THB755 food and soft drink package, since neither of us were drinking last night, and it was worth every penny.
I suppose Darrell and I had about six courses each, and they all tasted unbelievably good. We could have had many more, but after piling on the pounds, I kept it rather restrained. I paid about AUD$60 for the two of us and that was including a 20% service charge, We chose the THB755 food and soft drink package, since neither of us were drinking last night, and it was worth every penny.
After an early dinner, we took a stroll around the area once again, just taking in the sights of city life in Bangkok. Coming from small town Australia, it is always a dream coming here. We both love the bright lights of Bangkok because it is so different to where we live. Bangkok never ceases to amaze me — it is a place I return to time and time again, because it offers so much to the eager traveller like me. If you haven't been here, come, you won't be disappointed and neither were we!
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